A dog and a person were potentially exposed to a rabid raccoon in Greenville County, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. DHEC has confirmed that a raccoon found near Dills Farm Way and Owens Road in Greer tested positive for rabies. They said one person was potentially exposed and was referred to their health care provider. A dog has been exposed and will be quarantined as required by the South Carolina rabies control law. The raccoon was submitted to the DHEC laboratory for testing on May 6 and was confirmed. have rabies on May 7. If you think you, someone you know, or your pets have been in contact with this raccoon or another animal that may have rabies, please call Upstate Public Health in Greenville -Spartanburg from DHEC at 864-372-3270. during normal business hours. “To reduce the risk of contracting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space,” said Terri McCollister, rabies program director. “If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in animal handling, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator or wildlife rehabilitator.” Exposure is defined as direct contact (e.g. through broken skin). or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. If your pet has injuries of unknown origin, DHEC advises you to consider that your pet may have been exposed to rabies. It’s important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, which is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect against the disease, according to DHEC. This raccoon is the third animal in Greenville County to test positive for rabies in 2024. There have been 27 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged about 148 positive cases per year. In 2023, three of the 78 confirmed cases of rabies in South Carolina were in Greenville County.
A dog and a person were potentially exposed to a rabid raccoon in Greenville County, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC has confirmed that a raccoon found near Dills Farm Way and Owens Road in Greer tested positive for rabies.
They said one person was potentially exposed and was referred to their health care provider.
A dog has been exposed and will be quarantined as required by the South Carolina rabies control law.
The raccoon was submitted to the DHEC laboratory for analysis on May 6 and was confirmed to have rabies on May 7.
If you think you, someone you know, or your pets have come into contact with this raccoon or another animal that may have rabies, please call Upstate Public Health in Greenville -Spartanburg from DHEC at 864-372-3270 during regular business hours.
“To reduce the risk of contracting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space,” said Terri McCollister, rabies program director. “If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in animal handling, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator or wildlife rehabilitator.”
Exposure is defined as direct contact (e.g. through broken skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue of an infected animal. If your pet has injuries of unknown origin, DHEC advises you to consider that your pet may have been exposed to rabies. It’s important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations, which is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect against the disease, according to DHEC.
This raccoon is the third animal in Greenville County to test positive for rabies in 2024. There have been 27 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged about 148 positive cases per year. In 2023, three of the 78 confirmed cases of rabies in South Carolina were in Greenville County.
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